The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-09-26
MEMPHIS CITY RAILWAY.
Report Of Council Committee q
Little Over q Year Ago.
Nearly ,hs Entirs Systsn Cen.
aemned and the Campaign Ne
guu-1hsre IL . Neral.

At meeting Of the Legislative
Council, held June IL, 1885, a commit
tee Of three, comp ossd Of Msssrs. T. J.
Graham, John II. Randle and r. Il.
Patterson, was appointed 10 inspect
the various lines OF railroad Of the
Memphis CITY Railway Company. The
sommitles reported at q meeting Of
the Council August lsth, following,
from which report few facts as they
existed u, the time are rcproduced. A
great many Of them have been changed
for the better, but to Mr.. Hsdden's
tireless Efforts for the people 10 due
Che cridit.
TIE RRpoRT.
VI. At the north end OF the line on
Fifth street, Chelsea, we found large
circular track, or curve, used init I'D Of
turn table, constructed In such man.
ner as to prove detriment to the street,
occupy ing the entire street, from gut.
ter to gutter In some places, leaving q
triangular space between track, being
about thirty feet at Its base, and
which, BY reason OF said tracks.
catches and retains water, and sccu.
mulatos street droppings and filth Of
all kinde, making II unsan,taTy.
~. The tracks on Fifth street, from
Kerr TO Mill streets, q distance Of
sbout 1920 feet, Ia composed OF h,t,
nauge aud the ancient u street rail,
spiked to plankiDg laid crosswise In
the street. This planking varies In
thickness and length, and almost com.
pletely ruins IL as Q thoroughisre; the
plankipg extends from two inches 10
two and half feet outside the rails,
making q ragged edge over which
II 10 impossible 10 drive q
vehicle without extraordinary risk
TO lie and property. This
track and planking 10 from three
Inches to two feet above the balance
oil the street, thus making complets
barrier 10 crossing ths street, except.
ing at the intersection OF the cross
streets; and at the square between
Looney and Bafiarans streets q switch
10 operated, which Ia built In such q
manner % 70 hold water, creating q
puddle and holding the street flth
the planking al times being worked
loose and floating, making an ob,truo.
ton and q nuisance, ard at the same
time placing the street In such shape
that the city authorities cannot, ct
any reasonable cost, keep lie part OF
the street In repair, such ~ II would
desire 10 do.
"3. The track on Mil street. from
Filth street 10 Bayou Gayoso, a dis.
lance Of about 1850 feet, Ia constructed
with Johnston rails. from three 10
eight inches shove the grade OF the
adjoining pavement constructed By
the city, Offering an abrupt obstrue.
ton TO crossing the street. For dis.
lance OF about 700 feet from Fifth
street westwardly some stone has been
placed between the tracks (none out
tice) by The car company 40 q pretext
Tor paving. the stone used being OF
almost all grades aud descriptions, u
being the refuse from other streets.
being what Ia commonly called chIps
and spra&ls, and u is simply an i'm.
poesipllty 10 make paving with II,
ard unce being placed they are con.
tihually coming out OF the street., ne.
eessitating its repair every ten days or
two weeks In order 10 keep Il In the
street at all. We condemn this, for
the simple reason that IL Ia no pave.
meat, either In material or workman
ship; and w. would recommend thai
the Company he compelled 10 remov,
this slone and replace II with suitabl,
pavement, aud that the street b,
paw, d by the company 80 a. 10 offe
no obstruction 10 tho ifss use of IN
street Tor ordinary travel. From Thlr
street 10 Bayou GAyoeo, q distance {
about o5J iset, was once n i'd b,
tween The Tracks With gravel, whic
la w'rktd cut aud now presents a
appearance VI tao large cutters In n
middle OF tbs street, iiom thTes ~ Gig
inches btlJv t.e ralls, greatly impai
ing iis us, ant rendering II unit 4
other travel. The crossing nt Secor
street 10 poorly construc Cd, and =
tains the street flth after storm, CT
aiing q nuisance, aud should be .
placed 81 once With the improy,
street "a lroad crossing.
q The tacksffom near Bayou q A
oso on Mil street TO M,in street, ~
thence on Main street 20 Aucti,
street, including the ourye from Ma
10 Mil street, = iltlsate a about
ieei, 10 laid with Johnslon rails, wi
the exception Of about $50 feet
strap or u rail, and the snaco belwe
the racks covered with planks
various thickness and width, exec
ing about 100 Yards OF rubble sto
placed TO protect q switch and tai
table near Mil street On Main elrs
We coDdtmn this planklng an q M
ance, u being partially rotten, 10.
and the epaoe be, = cen boards aud q
dsfhea.h holding the hlIh Of the ctr
H eli timee, and not allowing II
charge 10 escape. We slso reco
mend the immediate r'movsl d q
turn able and switch a. an INV
rani,d use Of the public domain,
there 10 no necessity Tor Il II isis
obstruction 10 this frea use OF
street, and We further fecomm,
that The company be- forced 10 \
toe. lie tracks Tor to- feet outside
rails, A., unle hey do, they viii
have a complete monopoly II /
street Tor thu foregoing dis'ancs; 9
all the wood nO~ In use, hire I
eitewh ere be,vej the c1mpau
track, ohould b. removed OF oiher q
remedled 20 a. not I create and MI
lain n nuisance. Tha cfraaing v
the Louityi.le and Nashville fallf
a. Main sfosl should be replaced
ono With TIE lalso' Improved %
bnet ctr 81 aud riiho VI crossing
IS. The tTaotson NJ in. from Auc
toap mt s0u IA ot Oh stree a
tarte 4 sbon, $500 istl. 10 laid v
three iprh aAngt a. ., on 6xS sir
ere. hv plvement between
rails V badly worn, nfd hss besn
paired In Tho past in anch indihsi
and uu soitmanufe manner, and
nee material us,d (,elug the crdir
iubp.e ttcny) Of suou pnor share,
tlaa nu.aalce and dstliment 10
Tree nse OF The street; Il 10 irfegul,
appeMa &c, aud 80 not cor iJiu
she grade Il the auust NJ 4 tack
tho UavlUu .uIaiHE fha tKafks